Letters to the editor 10/29

We all deserve that U.S. 'Medical Odyssey'

The Tea Party conspiracy to shut down the government until the Affordable Care Act was repealed was soundly defeated. The day of that defeat, news came to light of a book by former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, which recalls his heart attacks and brush with death. "Heart: An American Medical Odyssey" describes his emergency medical surgery, heart replacement and other medical issues while Cheney was a congressman and then vice president.

I wish Mr. Cheney nothing but good health. I, too, have heart disease and have had bypass surgery. I remember being told by a cardiologist that it would be a good idea if I didn't go home, and two days later had a triple bypass.

Like Mr. Cheney, I had excellent care in a top-notch facility with a chief cardiologist.

I had excellent health insurance and out-of-pocket expenses had no impact on my lifestyle. I didn't suffer financial hardship and started rehabilitation right away.

Now we have Ted Cruz, and his band of bandits. What do they think about Jane Doe who lives in a single-room occupancy (SRO) hotel in Trenton, N.J.? Does she deserve the same care as Mr. Cheney and me, or should she be sacrificed for farm subsidies, aircraft carriers or tax breaks for banks like Bank of America, which posted $2.5 billion in earnings?

You see, Teddy boy, Jane Doe is an American, too. And she deserves health care just like Mr. Cheney and me.

We all deserve that "American Medical Odyssey."

John Taylor

Millbrook

Democrats had chance to avoid the shutdown

Americans seem to have disproportionately blamed Republicans, more specifically the Tea Party, for the recent government shutdown. I'm surprised by this because the majority of Americans also dislike the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the exploding public debt. These were the two issues that the Tea Party wanted to restrain, using the budget showdown as a vehicle to try to get things changed. Why then would the public go against their efforts? After all, the Democrats had the ability to deal with these issues before the shutdown. If a shutdown is such a terrible thing, then why wait until the last minute to deal with them?

The Democrats employed illogical arguments and punitive action in national parks to get their point across, but the public didn't notice. It seems instead, that most Americans formulate their opinions by listening to comedians and media stars. Had they even listened to liberal MSNBC, they might have gotten a more balanced view, because even MSNBC has conservatives.

Americans don't seem to have the discipline to listen to a news network, nor do they try to get both sides of an issue before forming an opinion. Comedians and media stars, on the other hand, are much more entertaining. Unfortunately, nearly all comedians and media stars are very liberal, and express nothing but scorn for the Tea Party and Republicans. If you formulate your opinions by listening to comedians and media stars, you're extremely irresponsible and have no right to complain about the public debt or "Obamacare."

Alan Bradford

Salt Point

Mental Health America thanks the community

There was a common thread that connected the people who attended Mental Health America of Dutchess County's recent "Swing Away Stress" fundraiser - they all believed in our cause.

MHA's mission is to promote mental health, prevent mental illness and improve the care and treatment of people with mental illness. Each fall, our agency holds its major event to heighten community awareness of the many people we serve through vital programming and to raise funds to sustain, enhance and create such programming.

Our agency would like to extend our appreciation to all the businesses, organizations and individuals who supported our event by attending, sending monetary donations, placing ads and listings in our journal and donating items to our silent and live auctions.

We would also like to thank Marist College, Rhinebeck Bank and Meyer Contracting for their sponsorship, and the Law Office of Kathleen Metzger, MHA Board member Debi Duke, and Metzger Injury Law for purchasing tables.

Special thanks must go to Christos Restaurant for providing a welcoming atmosphere in which guests enjoyed dinner hors d'oeuvres, drinks and dessert, and DJ Joey Garcia of Jade Entertainment for providing great music.

For 59 years, MHA's cause has remained the same. Thank you all for believing in it and supporting it.

Kathleen Valentino

community events coordinator, Mental Health America of Dutchess County

Poughkeepsie

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Letters to the editor 10/29

The Tea Party conspiracy to shut down the government until the Affordable Care Act was repealed was soundly defeated. The day of that defeat, news came to light of a book by former U.S.

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